Bridgeton pioneer., 1887-03-31
RAILROAD EXTENSION.
City Council Meets and Takes
Favorable Action.


A special meeting Of City Council
was held in Council Chamber Monday
evening, President Rogers in the chair.
All the members were present. Min
utes of last meeting were read and
approved.
Communication from Mrs. Fithian,
asking Council to remit the license fee
for the rewster-Newton entertain
ment, it having been given for the
benefit of the Mission School, was read,
and request granted. Communication
from a. L. Robeson Post, asking same
favor in case of John l.. Wheeler's
Grand Army lectures, was also read,
and request granted Communication
from the Good Templars, asking re-
mittance of license fee for their enter
ment Wednesday night, took the same
course.
The following bills were ordered
paid:-Expenses of fire department,
one month, $23S.00; D. E. Woodruff,
Justice of Peace order of removal,
$1.00; Jonathan Loper, Justice of the
Peace, order of removal, $1.00.
Assessor-elect J. r. G. Thompson, of
the Second ward, presented himself,
and was sworn into Office, as did also
J. Vanaman, Clerk, Second ward and
J. F. Hutchinson, Pound Keeper, First
ward.
The unfinished business concerning
the proposed extension of the West
Jersey Railroad through Bridgeton to
Lemon street, was taken up and dis
cussed.
Mr.. Walter H. Bacon, counsel for
the company, presented maps of the
route, and spread them on the Council
manic table for the inspection of MEM
bers In referring to the matter Mr..
Bacon made an eloquent and argumen-
tative speech, in which he spoke of the
great benefits which would accrue from
| the opening up of portion of the
! city which had heretofore been unde-
veloped. The tenement house district
would be regenerated and made to
bloom and blossom as the rose. The
! route as laid down was the most feasi7
BILE one that could be proposed or Sc
cured, and did the least injury to prop
erty. He said that the greatest diff
Guilty in the way was the objection
that several Councilmen had to cutting
| through the water-works property.
| But, he thought that this was no real,
substantial, or serious objection, as
there would be other advantages to the
city connected with the road at that
| point which would fully offset the dis
advantage, if it were a disadvantage,
of going through that neighborhood.
AS to precautions against danger to life
and limb the company was ready and
willing to do everything possible to
ensure the public safety. In his opin-
ion, Council could not afford to reject
such great improvement as that
which the company intended to make.
They proposed to spend 100000 on
improvements here, and would erect a
handsome passenger and freight de-
pot on Lemon street, and a fine station
at East Commerce street, retaining
also the present depot at Irving Ave
nue.. The work of extension would
bring labor to the hands of many men,
and add to the general prosperity.
1t was the duty of Council to look to
the interests of the people; it was its
duty to aid and encourage all public
improvements which had for their OBJ
ject the building up of the business
interests of the city He closed by
asking Council for favorable vote.
Mr. Seeley, of the First ward, then
offered the following resolution
WHEREAS, 1.-THE W. j. r. r. Co. hav-
ing asked from this Council author
ity to occupy and cross certain streets
in line of the proposed extension of
/ it's road to the I'd ward of this city,
| and also for right of way through
the city property adjoining the water
works.
/ Resolued, That in view of the great
danger to public travel and injury to
the water works property Council
| hereby refuses to give its consent to
the said r. r. Co. to cross E. Commerce
street on the proposed line, or to grant
right of way through the said prop
erty, and advise the crossing of this
street at some point less dangerous to
public safety.
A lengthy debate then took place,
which was participated in by Messrs.
Seeley, Terrell, Probasco, Daley, Rob-
bins, Hancock and Rogers.
Mr.. Seeley said that he was not op-
posed to the railroad coming into the
city, but he was opposed to the route
| selected as it would injure valuable
property belonging to the city, and
make dangerous crossing on Com
lnerce street where much travel occurs.
He did not think Council ought to
! allow dictatiOn from the railroad COM